Valve



F. F; COUCH VALVE April 12,1927. A '1,624,218

Fileduarcn 13. 1925 2 sheets-sheet 2 lll thereto.

Patented Apr. l2, 1927.

UNHED .STATES Peri-:Nr

FREDERICK F. CUCH, OF NEVJ BRUNSVCK, NEWV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO FEDERATED ENGINEERS DEVELOPB'IENT CORPCBJTON,OF JERSEY CITY, NEVI JERSEY, A CR- roRAfrroiv on DELAWARE.

VALVE Application filed March 13, 1925. Serial No. 15,252.

My invention relates to a valve adaptedl particularly tor controlling motors operated by liquid motive agents, although my invention could also beiised on motors driven byV valve member and a pilot valve, the latter serving to'initiate movement ot the disv tributor valve, and the present invention is an improvein .it on the' invention described in my co-peiiding application, Serial No. 'th tiled December 29, 192e. A

lt is an objectotmy present invention, to provide a valve mechanism in ivliich'seat ing ot' the distributor valve ivill be posiJ tively assured. V

lt is also an object ot' my invention to provide a lvalve mechanism in ivhich a mininiuiii quantity ot motive agent is employed 'tor the operation of the valve. i

Another object of the invention, is to reduce the friction et moving parts.

A tiirther object is to provide a construction in which the leakage oit motive fluid through `or past the valve members will be reduced to a minimum.

A still further object is to provide a construction in which Wear ot parts vvill be automatically taken up.

ln laddition to these, another objectoi my invention is to provide a construction in which the cost of manufacturing vhev parte and assembling them, is reduced to a miniy y l area ot the loiver side ott the piston'is" rellllllll iviiii time and Siiiiothel' Objects i "im" side E ot of a plate constituting` a part of the pilot member. t l

Referring to Figure 1, I have shown a ito'rm'of lhydraulic motor similar to that illustrated in the above mentioned co-pending application. The motor is providedwvith a double Walled casing forming a Water jacketlll 'and' a Water space' 12;"'The upper end of the casing is open and is adapted to receive a cylinder casting consisting of a plate 13 mounted on the Ytop ot the casing and a dependinocylinder 141 which projects into the Water space 12. ln the cylinder" 14, a piston 15 is litted. .The piston'is mounted ona rod 16 which passes through ats'tutliiig box 17 toi-med in the bottom vvally ot the motor casing. f At one side of the motor casing there is an inlet port 18 communicating with the Water space 12 and Witha port 19 leading through plate 13 to my improved valve mechanism. At the op'posite'side of the casing there is'an outlet port 2O leading trom the valve mechanism through platei to the Water jacket 11. "The'ivater jacket is provided With a discharge: port'not shownh in the drawing. 'It vvillbe understoodl that `Water under pressure adinitte'd throughfthe port 18 into-the Water space 12 alivays eX- erts an upward pressure against the'iinderpiston :15. When Water iinde i`"t`he l same pres iure is admitted to the upper part ot cylinder 14, there is an overbalanc'ing my invention consists in certain novel tea tin-e1; ot construction and combinations and ar 'ingeinents ot parts as ivill be'imoi'e fully hereinafter described and pointed out inthe claims.

"1n the accompanying drawings:

'Figure -1 is a sectional vieivo-tl a hydraulic motor' ivifh my improved valve applied The loiver" portion ot the 'motor casing beingbrolzen away;

2 to 4 inclusive are vievvs or" my improven valve in vertical section, sheiving successive positions oi the distributor valve memberand the pilot valve member; p

Fig. 5 shows an enlargement oty al portion of Figl; A

Finne shoivs yan enlargement ot a portion ot Fig. 3; yand 7 isa perspective vieiv n pressure tending'to torce the pistoni-denim ward by reason of the fact that the effective the numerals A21, 22, 23 and 2li. 'lhemein-Y ber 21 may be calledvthe cylinderineinbe'r, as it is formed With tivo differential 'cylinders 25 and 26 in Which my distributor valve member operates. At the top *orP Athe cyliiider member,'there is an annular member 22 tormed'on its upper tace adjacent its inner periphery With a bead 27,` which serves as anv upper seat forv the distributor valve.

VAbove the member 22 isy acap 23, which serves to closefthe top 'zot thevalve casing.

ll`he three members 21, 22 and 23 are clamped together by means of bolts 28 and suitable packing material may be introduced between them to make the joints water tight. The Acylinder member in turn is bolted to the motor casing 10, the bolts not being shown in the drawing.

It will be noted that the cylinder 26 1s formed by the cylindrical face of an invvardly projecting annular flange 26 and is orf smaller diameter` than the cylinder 25. Immediately below 'this flange, there is a recess which communicates through a passage 3l) with port 19. At the opposite side oi the casing, there is a passage 3l which connects the upper end ot' cylinder with the water jacket 1l by way ot' port 20. Located immediately below the recess is the annular bearing member 24 which is secured to the cylinder member 21. On the lower face or member 24 adjacent ils inner periphery, there is a bead 32 which serves a lower 4seat for my distributor valve. ln the wall of cylinder 25, there is a packing member 33, which may be in the form or a cupped leather ring and a similar packing n'ieinber is placed in the wall of cylinder 26.

All the parts so tar described in connection with my valve mechanism, are stationary members. It will be understood that the lower part of the valve casing 2l is open to the upper end or' cylinder 14.

The distributor valve which operates within the dilerential cylindersl 25 and 26 may for convenience of manufacture, be

A 'formed of several members, as follows:

There is a hollow cylindrical member 35, having a piston surface fitting the wall oliVv the cylinder 26 and also formed with an ainnilai'llange 36, which serves as a piston for cylinder 25. At each end of the member 35 there is a collar 37, the upper collar engaging the inner cylindrical face of the member 22 and the lower collar engaging the inner cylindrical face of member 24. The collars 37, however, areV peripherally grooved as indicated at 37 so as to permit water to pass by them. The grooves 37 however, do not -zrfend to the very outer extremities ot the collars but te. ninate in an annular groove 38, formed just below the top of upper member 37V and just above the bottom of the lower member 37, leaving an ungrooved piston valve surface 38 at the outer end ot each member 37. rlfhc groove 38 provides a common communicating channel for all the grooves 37. Annular cap members 39 are fitted upon the opposite ends of the distrilmtorvalve and between each cap 39 Vand the adjacent member 37 is a spring metal washer 40, the washer being clamped at its inner periphery between shoulders .formed on the members 39 and 37. The outer edge ot' the washer 40 is thus free to be flexed up or down out oi' its normal plane. The various members of the distributor valve'are'held together' by bolts 41, which pass from 'the top member 39 to the bottom member 39, holding all parts securely together. The washers 40 are adapted alternately to engage the beads 27 and 32 on annular members 22 and 24.

Mounted to operate within the bore of the cylindrical member 35 is my pilot valve which consists or" two narrow plates 42 carried by a cage 43.v Projecting Jfrom the upper face of piston 15, is a valve stem 44 which passes through the lower wall of the cage This stem is provided with stop members 45 and 46, which are so spaced as to provide considerable lost motion between the stroke of the piston 15 and that of the pilot valve. rlhe slide valves 42 are arranged to reciprocate in contact with seats 352 (see Fig. 5) `formed on the inner iiace of the member 35, and each slide valve is pressed against its seat by a spring 47 carried by the cage 43 and bearing against the rear face oli the slide valve 42.

In each valve seat there are three ports 43, 49 and 50, which are controlled by the slide valve 42. The port 49 is always in con'mmnication with the recess 29. The ports 49 and 50 penetrate the wall of the menjiber 35 below and above the piston 36 respectively. ln the contael face or cach slide member 42, Vthere is a groove 5l, which is always in communication with port 49 and is alternately in communication with ports 50 and 43, depending upon the position of the piston 15.

It will be understood l hat the cage 43 does not completely fill the hollow interior or" the member 35 and consequently the upper end ot the cylinder 14 is always in communication with the space 52 at the top of the valve casing.

rlhe operation of my improved valve can now be understood by noting successive positions of the various parts thereof in the successive views orl the drawings.

Figure 1 represents the position of the valve parts just as the piston 15 has reached the bottom of its stroke. VThe distributor valve is in its lower position with the upper spring washer 40 bearing upon the bead 27. As shown more clearly in Fig. 5, the pressure upon the top of the distributor valve is such as to flex the washer 40 insuring a positive seating on'the bead 27, even though the distributor valve as a whole might be slightly canted, owing either to imperfect manufacture or to slight wear between the inner periphery of members 22 and 24 and the outer peripheries Vof members 37.

As shown in Fig. 1, the slide Vvalves 42 have been drawn down by the piston 15 until the grooves 51 have just uncovered the lli] nemesis lower ports 48. This immediately establishes communication between passage 30 and the lower end of cylinder by way of ports 49. Water under pressure entering the cylinder' 25 below ythe piston 36, forces the distributor valve upward to the position shown in Fig. 2. As the distributor valve rises, the ports 43 which were just cracked open by the downward movement or' the slide valves 42, are opened wide and remain open throughout the upward movement of th distributor valve. In other words, once the ports 48 are cracked open, they open themselves fully regardless of the movement ot' the slide valve 42. Upward movement ot -the distributor valve is-also assisted by the upper spring washer 40, which, as shown in 5, has been flexed and is under a tension which endeavors to restore Vthe washer to its normal plane. Thus the spring washer assists in assuring a positive upward movement ot the distributor valve as soon as the ports 48 are cracked open.

lt will be understood of course, that the distributor valve risesbecause the difference in pressures acting on the piston y36 overbalances the downward pressure acting on the annular surface ot the member 37. The distributor valve rises until the lower washer 40 engages bead 32, as shown in Fig. y2, andl the pressure on the bottom ot piston l3G is sutlicient to flex the lower washer downwardly as shown in the detail view Fig. 6. Then the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, communication between passage and the top of cylinder 14,- by wayof grooves 3T in the lower member 37, isinterrupted, and instead, the cylinder is connected with the exhaustpassage 31 by way of` the grooves 3T in the upper member 37.

As explained above, the cage 4 does not completely till the hollow interior ot the member 35 and consequently the cylinder 14 is always inV communication with the space enclosed b v the cap 23. Therefore, when the parts are'in the position shown in Fig. 2, water is freely discharged from the upper end ot cylinder 14 through the upper grooves 37 as the pressure on the bottom of the piston 15 causes the piston to rise. The valve parts remain stationary in the position shown in Fig. 2 until the stop 45 en gages the bottom of cage 43 near the end of the upward stroke of piston 15. Thereupon the cage 43 is raised tothe position shown in Fig. 3. This action serves to cut ott the. ports 48 and open ports 50 to con munication with ports 49 by way of grooves 51. As soon as ports 50 are cracked open, thewater in thepiston 26 is free to discharge into the upper end of cylinder 25 and Jthence to exhaust passage 31. Thereupon water pressure against the upper end or the lower member 37 forces the distributor valve downward and by this movement it is assisted by the tension of the lower flexed washer 40. Furthermore, as soon as the distributor valve starts moving, the ports 50, although they may have been lbarely cracked open by the slide valves 42, will open them selves fully, insuring a free passage of water eut or the space under the piston 3G. The

distributor valve is thus moved down tol position shown in Fig. 4, which cuts off communication between the top or' cylinder open to inlet passage 30 and discharge passage 31.

As wateris admitted into the upperend `ol: cylinder 14, it overcomes the pressure on the underside of piston 15 because of the greater effective area on the upper side of said piston, and consequently,the piston 15 is forced downward until itreaches the posik*tion shown in Fig. 1. Thiscompletes a cycle .ot operations whichwill continue to repeat itselt` so long as the working load on the motor is insuliicient to counterbalance the pressure dilerential betweenthe upper and lower sides of piston 15. .Whenthis pressure dillerential is counterbalancedthe piston will be stalled. However, no -matter how ,slowly the piston may bemoving and no matter in what position it may bestalled, whether it be midway of its stroke vor .whether ata point where ports43 or 50 are barely cracked open, the distributor valve can never remain in an intermediate position but will always move either. to t-he position shown in Fig. 1 or that. shown in Fig. 2.

.and will maintain thatposition preventing leakage from passage 30 toeXhaust passage. 31. and furthermore, just as soon as the. load on the motor is relieved, the piston 15 will auton'iatically resume its reciprocating),` inotion no matter in what position it had been stalled, and the valve mechanismwill continue its cycle of operations from the point where itstopped.

lt will lbe noted that a perfectly tight seal or, in other words,a perfect seating of the distributor valve on its seats, is provided by the spring` washers 40,7and' it will be `observed also that they accomplish a twofold purpose, because aside from insuring a perfect seal Aby reason of their flexibility, they also assist because of their resiliency in initiating movement of the distributor valve. Itis also to be noted that provision has been -nade to take up .wear of sliding parts. As

Xplained above, any wear between members 22 and 24 and the members 37, is taken up ill 0 Y ot actual alignment with the cylinder casing` 2l. ,Wear on the pistons 36 and 35 is taken up by the paclrings 38 and lt will be noted that these paclrinps need only guard against leallage in one direction, viz upward and tor this reason, l have used the cupped rings shown. lt will be evident, however, that instead of introducing these rings into the cylinder walls they or their mechanical equivalents nay be applied equally as ettectively in the walls ot the pistons 36 and 35, and hence l do not wish to limit mysel'l to the exact construction shown in the drawings. The only other place in which wear that needs to be compensated i'or can occur, is between the slide valves 42 e nd their seats; but wear at these points is taken up automatically by the springs 4;?. Consequently, provision has been made 'tor eliminating any dilllculties due to wearing ot parts and a tight seal against leakage ot actuating` liquid is insured at all times.

While l have shown a preferred embodiment ot my invention, it will be understood that l do not limit myself to the precise details shown in the drawings, but consider myselia at liberty to make such slight changes in construction or arrangements or parts as may tall clearly within the scope ot definition ot the 'following claims.

I claim:

l. A valve mechanism comprising a casing formed with two cylinders ot respectively different bore and havinginlet'and outlet passages con'nnunicating respectively with said cylinders, a hollow piston member formed with two pistons adapted respectively to tit said cylinders and reciprocate therein, a flexible dish valve at each end ot' the piston member, seats tor said valves formed on the casing, said valves serving' to close communication between `the interior ot the casing and said inlet and exhaust passages alternately, the piston member beingl formed with ports for the admission and exhaust of i'luid to actuate said member, and a slide valve operable to control said ports.

2. A valve mechanism comprising a casing formed with two cylinders of respectively ditterent bore and having` inlet and outlet passages communicating respectively with said cylinders, a hollow piston member formed with two pistons adapted respectively to tit said cylinders and reciprocate therein, a resilient dislc valve at each. end o'j the piston member, seats tor said valves termed on the casing, said valves serving to close communication between the interior formed with ports for the admission and eX- mamme haust oi iiuid to act-nate said icmber, and a slide valve operable to control said port-s.

3. fr valve mechanism comprising a casing formed with two cylinders ot respectively diiterent bore and having inlet and outlet passages communieating` respectively with said cylinders, a hollow piston member formed with two pistons adapted respectively to lit said cylinders and reciprocate therein, a valve at each end of the lpiston member, seats tor saidl valves formed Von the casing, said valves serving to close communication between the interior oi the casing and said inlet and exhaust passages alternately, the piston member bei ng formed with ports for the admi 'ion and exhaust ot iiuid to actuate said member, a pilot valve operable to control said ports, and means for operating` said pilot valve.

d. A valve mechanism 'comprising a casing formed with'two cylinders ot respectively diii'erent boreand with inlet and outlet passages communicating respectively with said cylinders, a hollow piston member adapted to tit and reciprocate in said cylinders, a valve at each end ot the piston member, seats iior said valves lormed on the casing, said valves being adapted by reciprocation ot the piston member to close conimunication between the interior ot the cas ing` and the inlet and exhaust passaffes alternately, the piston member being Jiormed with a valve seat on the interior face thereof, ports Vopening` into said seat tor the admission and exhaust of fluid to actuate the piston member, a slide valve engaging said last named seat and operable to control said ports, a carriage reciprocable within the piston member tor supporting said slide valve, and a spring adapted to hold the slide valve in engagement with its seat.

5. rlhe valve mechanism comprising,- a casing formed interiorly with cylindrical valve seats at opposite ends thereof, the casing beturther formed with an inlet and an outlet passage opening into the interior thereof intermediate between said seats, and with two cylinders ot respectively dili'erent bore between said passages and coinniunicating'V therewith, a hollow cylindrical valve reciprocable within the casing to engage said seats alternately, said valve being termed with pistons adapted to i'itsaid cj-,f'linders` said cylindrical valve being further formed with an inlet port connmmieating` with the inlet passage, with an outlet port communicat-ing with the outletpassag'e and with an intermediate port between said pistons, and a pilot valve for placing` said intermediate port alternately in communication with the inlet port and the outlet port.

A valve mechanism comprising` a casing formed interiorly with a cylindrical valve seat near each end thereof, and with an inlet and an outlet passage opening into the interior thereof intermediate between said seats, the casing being further formed with two cylinders of respectively different bore between said passages and communicating therewith, a hollow cylindrical valve reciprocable within the casing to engage said seats alternately, said valve being formed with pistons adapted to tit said cylinders, said cylindrical valve being further formed with an inlet port communicating with the inlet passage, with an outlet portcommunicating with the outlet passage and with an intermediate port between said pistons, a slide valve for placing said intermediate port alternately in communication with the inlet port and the outlet port, the casingbeing further formed with face valve seats at opposite ends thereof, and -flexible disk valves carried by the cylindrical valve and adapted to engage said face seats alternately.

T. valve mechanism comprising a casing formed interiorly with cylindrical valve seats at opposite ends thereof, the casing being further formed with an inlet and an outlet passage opening into the interior thereof intermediate between said seats and with two cylinders of respectively different bore between said passages and communicating therewith, a hollow cylindrical valve reciprocable within the easing to engage said seats alternately, said valve being formed with pistons adapted to fit said cylinders, said cylindrical valve being further formed with an inlet port communicating with the inlet passage, with an outlet port communicating with the outlet passage and with an intermediate port between said pistons, a slide valve adapted to place said intermediate port alternately in communication with the inlet port and the out-let port, the casing being further formed with face valve seats at opposite ends thereof, and resilient disk valves carried by the cylindrical valve adapted to engage said face seats alternately.

8. rlhe combination with a motor cylinder Y and a piston reciprocable therein, of a valve mechanism comprising a hollow head open to one end of the cylinder, the head being formed with inlet and out-let passages for the motor actuating fluid, a liuid actuated sleeve valve reciprocable within the hollow head, supplementary flexible disk valves carried by the sleeve valve, said sleeve valve and disk valves cti-operating to close communication between the motor cylinder and said passages alternately, the sleeve valve being formed with ports for the admission and exhaust of Huid for actuating said valve, a pilot valve adapted to control said ports, and means associated with said piston for operating said pilot valve.

9. The combination with a motor cylinder and a piston reciprocable therein, of a valve mechanism comprising a hollow head open to one end of the cylinder, the head being formed with inlet and outlet passages for the motor actuating fluid, a fluid actuated sleeve valve reciprocable within the hollow head, resilient disk valves carried by the sleeve valve, said Sleeve valve and disk valves co-operating to close communication between the motor cylinder and said passages alternately, the sleeve valve being formed with ports for the admission and exhaust of fluid for actuating said valve, a pilot valve adapted to control said ports, and means associated with said piston for operating said pilot valve.

FREDERICK F. COUCH. 

